Senator O’Brien: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question
Nos 1270-1272)—With respect to the additional $8 per passenger increase
in the Passenger Movement Charge that came into effect on 1 July 2001
to fund increased passenger processing costs as part of Australia’s
response to the threat of the introduction of foot and mouth disease:

(1) What
was the total additional revenue raised by this extra $8 in each of
the following financial years: (a) 2001-02; and (b) 2002-03 to date.

(2) What
is the total additional revenue estimated to be raised by this extra
$8 in each of the following financial years: (a) 2002-03; (b) 2003-04;
(c) 2004-05; and (d) 2005-06.

(3) What
was the total amount of Passenger Movement Charge collected at each
airport and port for each of the following financial years: (a) 2001-02;
and (b) 2002-03 to date.

(4) What
is the total amount of Passenger Movement Charge estimated to be collected
at each airport and port for each of the following financial years:
(a) 2002-03; (b) 2003-04; (c) 2004-05; and (d) 2005-06.

(5) How
much has been spent by the Government on new quarantine screening equipment
at each airport and port since 1 July 2001.

(6) (a)
How much additional money has the Government spent on other quarantine
processing costs at each airport and port since 1 July 2001; and (b)
what services, measures or expenses comprise that additional expenditure
at each airport and port.

(7) How
much additional money is estimated to be spent on new quarantine screening
equipment and other processing costs respectively at each airport and
port for each of the following financial years: (a) 2002-03; (b) 2003-04;
(c) 2004-05; and (d) 2005-06.

(8) (a)
Which programs are administering costs associated with increased passenger
processing costs as part of Australia’s response to the threat of
the introduction of foot and mouth disease; (b) how much has been spent,
and is it estimated will be spent, from each program in each year it
has or is budgeted to operate; and (c) which department is responsible
for the administration of each program.

(9) Are
there any outstanding claims by any organisation or individual for expenditure
on equipment or measures as part of Australia’s response to the threat
of foot and mouth disease; if so: (a) who are the claimants; (b) what
is each claim for; and (c) will each be paid and when.

(10) (a)
How many passengers departing Australia were exempted from paying the
Passenger Movement Charge; and (b) what is the legal basis and number
of passengers for each category of exempted passengers.

(11) Will
the $8 foot and mouth response component of the Passenger Movement Charge
be removed, increased or reduced commensurate with the movement in costs
associated with Australia’s response to the threat of the introduction
of foot and mouth disease; if so, when; if not, why not.

1271 Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry

1273 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—With reference to the Minister’s
statement, dated 31 October 2001, concerning support for the bio-fuels
industry:

(1) Did
the statement announce a $50 million capital subsidy for new or expanded
bio-fuel capacity.

(2) Did
the Minister consult with any bio-fuel producers, or bio-fuel industry
organisations, prior to his announcement; if so, which producers or
organisations did he consult.

(3) When
was the capital subsidy introduced.

(4) What
department is administering this subsidy.

(5) Under
which program is the subsidy funded.

(6) What
rules apply to subsidies under the scheme.

(7) Can
a copy of an application form and the scheme rules be provided; if not,
why not.

(8) What
subsidy expenditure was budgeted for in the following financial years:
(a) 2001-02; and (b) 2002-03.

(9) How
much has been expended on the subsidy, by year, in each of the following
financial years: (a) 2001-02; and (b) 2002-03 to date.

(10) How
much is budgeted, by year, in the period 2003-04 to 2006-07.

(11) What
was the basis of the Minister’s assertion that the subsidy would generate
‘at least five new ethanol distilleries’ and ‘around 2 300 construction
jobs and 1 100 permanent jobs, mostly in rural areas’.

(12) (a)
What companies have received the capital subsidy; and (b) what subsidy
amount has each company received.

(13) How
many new ethanol distilleries have been constructed.

(14) Where
have these distilleries been constructed.

(15) Which
existing distilleries have been expanded.

(16) How
many of the promised 2 300 construction jobs have been generated.

(17) How
many of the promised 1 100 permanent jobs have been generated.

(18) What
percentage of these permanent jobs has been generated in rural areas.

(19) When
did construction of each new distillery, or distillery expansion, commence.

(20) How
many construction jobs have been created in respect to each distillery
construction project.

(21) When
did construction of each new distillery, or expanded distillery, conclude.

(22) How
many permanent jobs, full-time and part-time, have been created in respect
to each new or expanded distillery project.

(23) How
much additional ethanol has each new or expanded ethanol distillery
produced.

1274 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—With reference to the Minister’s
statement, dated 31 October 2001, concerning support for the bio-fuels
industry:

(1) Was
the statement issued during the 2001 Federal Election campaign.

(2) Did
the Minister promise that, ‘the current excise exemption for fuel
ethanol will be retained’.

(3) Was
the Minister consulted before the Prime Minister announced the imposition
of an excise on fuel ethanol on 12 September 2002.

1276 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Treasurer—How
much excise on fuel ethanol has been collected, by month, since 17 September
2002.

Senator O’Brien: To ask the Ministers listed below (Question
Nos 1280-1287)—What payments, subsidies, grants, gratuities or awards
have been made to the Manildra group of companies, including but not
necessarily limited to Manildra Energy Australia Pty Ltd, since March
1996.

1285 Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry

1288 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—

(1) What
has been the measurable increase in use of sugar and/or sugar by-products
as feedstock for fuel ethanol since the introduction of the ethanol
production subsidy on 17 September 2002.

(2) What
is the projected increase in the use of sugar and/or sugar by-products
as feedstock for fuel ethanol over the 12-month life of the ethanol
production subsidy introduced on 17 September 2002.

(1) What
representations has the Government received from Brazil about its decision
to impose a customs duty of 38.143 cents per litre on fuel ethanol and
provide a subsidy to domestic ethanol producers.

(2) (a)
When were those representations received; and (b) what was the Government’s
response.

(3) Has
the Government received representations from countries other than Brazil
about its decision to impose a customs duty of 38.143 cents per litre
on fuel ethanol and provide a subsidy to domestic ethanol producers.

(4) (a)
When were those representations received; and (b) what was the Government’s
response.

1289 Minister representing the Minister for Trade

1290 Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs

1291 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Trade—

(1) Did
any government seek consultations through the World Trade Organization
in relation to the Government’s decision in September 2002 to impose
a customs duty of 38.143 cents per litre on fuel ethanol and provide
a subsidy to domestic ethanol producers; if so: (a) on what date did
each country seek consultations; and (b) on what basis were consultations
sought.

(2) Did
any third party participate in these consultations.

(3) In
each case, has the matter been resolved; if so, on what date and how
was the matter resolved; if not, what resolution process is underway.

(1) On
what date or dates did: (a) the Minister; (b) the Minister’s office;
and (c) the department, become aware that Trafigura Fuels Australia Pty
Ltd proposed to import a shipment of ethanol to Australia from Brazil
in September 2002.

(2) What
was the source of this information to: (a) the Minister; (b) the Minister’s
office; and (c) the department.

(3) Was
the Minister or his office or the department requested to investigate
and/or take action to prevent the arrival of this shipment by any ethanol
producer or distributor or industry organisation; if so: (a) who made
this request; (b) when was its made; and (c) what form did this request
take.

(4) Did
the Minister or his office or the department engage in discussions and/or
activities in August 2002 or September 2002 to develop a proposal to
prevent the arrival of this shipment of ethanol from Brazil; if so,
what was the nature of these discussions and/or activities, including
dates of discussions and/or activities, personnel involved and cost.

1292 Minister representing the Prime Minister

1293 Minister representing the Minister for Transport and Regional
Services

1294 Minister representing the Minister for Trade

1295 Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs

1296 Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries
and Forestry

1299 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Trade—

(1) Did
the Minister, his office and/or the department ask the Australian Embassy
in Brazil in August 2002 and/or September 2002 to make enquiries about
the proposed export of ethanol to Australia by Trafigura Fuels Australia
Pty Ltd.

(2) How
did the Minister, his office and/or the department become aware of the
proposed shipment.

(3) On
what date did the Minister, his office and/or the department become
aware of the proposed shipment.

(4) Who
made this request.

(5) Why
was the request made.

(6) Was
the request made at the behest of the Prime Minister, another minister,
an ethanol producer, and/or an industry organisation.

(7) On
what date was this request made.

(8) In
what form was the request made.

(9) Who
received this request.

(10) Did
the Australian Embassy in Brazil make this enquiry on behalf of the
Minister, his office and/or the department; if so, on what date or dates
was this enquiry made and what form did it take.

(11) What
information was provided to the Minister, his office and/or the department.

(12) On
what date and in what form was this information provided.

(13) On
what dates and to whom did the Minister, his office and/or the department
communicate the information provided by the Embassy.

1300 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Foreign Affairs—

(1) Did
the Minister receive a request from the Minister for Trade to authorise
staff at the Australian Embassy in Brazil in August 2002 and/or September
2002 to gather and provide information about a proposed shipment of
ethanol to Australia by Trafigura Fuels Australia Pty Ltd.

(2) Did
staff at the Australian Embassy in Brazil in August 2002 and/or September
2002 gather and provide information about a proposed shipment of ethanol
to Australia by Trafigura Fuels Australia Pty Ltd; if so: (a) who requested
the staff to engage in that task; (b) who authorised staff to agree
to the request; (c) what action did staff take; (d) which staff engaged
in the task; (d) on what date or dates did staff engage in the task;
(e) what was the cost of engaging in the task; (f) to whom did the staff
deliver this information in Australia; and (g) what form did that communication
take.

1301 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—

(1) Did
the Minister meet with representatives of the Australian Institute of
Petroleum on 21 August 2002; if so: (a) at what time did the meeting
commence; (b) at what time did the meeting conclude; (c) where did the
meeting take place; (d) who was present at the meeting; (e) who initiated
the meeting; (f) what was the purpose of the meeting; and (g) what matters
were discussed at that meeting.

(2) Did
the Minister refer to a detailed record of that meeting made by his
office in answer to a question without notice in the House of Representatives
on 25 September 2002.

(3) Can
a copy of that record be provided; if not, why not.

1302 Senator
O’Brien: To ask the Minister representing the Minister for
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry—

(1) Has
the Minister received written or oral representations from representatives
of the Manildra group of companies, including but not necessarily limited
to Manildra Energy Australia Pty Ltd, concerning government support
for the ethanol industry; if so: (a) on what dates were those representations
received; and (b) in what form were they made.

(2) Has
the Minister received written or oral representations from representatives
of the Australian Bio-fuels Association concerning government support
for the ethanol industry; if so: (a) on what dates were those representations
received; and (b) in what form were they made.